Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-03-31
SMOKING AMONG LADIES.
In Spain, France, Turkey and Other
European Countries Women
Smoke.
IBrooklyn Magazlne.l

1 AbtVoAigu aA-h1iuO-I
A recent incidental statement made
by an authority whose opportunity of
observatatiOn leaves no doubt as to its
truthfulnesss, disclOses the fact that the
practice of smoking among American
ladies is becoming more and more
general. The observer, who is a lady
Of the highest standing in New York,
says: "MOre Americag women smoke
cigaretts, and often cigars, than the
world wOts of. Only few mornings
ago sat in the bOurdOir of one of the
best known women in New York
Society, a lady whose name is a
synonym for everything that is woman
| ly and refined to the outside world,
while she smoked cigarette after
cigarette with the utmost placidity.
During the morning three other ladies
dropped in, and two of them also pro-
duced dainty cigarette cases, and
smoked with entire cOmposure, ejecting
the curls of smoke into rings above
their heads as gracefully and perfectly
as the most expert smoker among men
could do. / know myself of scores of
our best New York, Boston and Phila-
delphia ladies, all my personal friends,
who indulge in smoking, and whose
names, if given to the public, would
cause astOnisment." 1t is not pleasant
to contemplate condition of affairs as
the above gives us excellent reason to
believe exists today among our Ameri-
can women. "Men smoke and why
should not women?" many have asked.
Simply because there are a thousand
and one things which, though proper in
men, are entirely unbecoming to wo-
men. The association of tobacco with
a refined lady is disagreeable; it is not
so with the most polished gentleman.
1t is argued by some that in Spain,
France and Turkey and other European
countries, the women all smoke, and
in public; yet these same people max
| ing this assertion have never for them
selves seen the class of women who are
addicted to this use of tobacco. In
like manner might we conduct a
foreigner to places in our great cities
where women can be found continually
smoking, but could such visitor re-
turn to his native land and declare in
truthfulness that the American lady
smokes? We are aware that in France
especially the habit of smoking among
women is more general than in Ameri-
ca, but likewise are many other habits
which American mothers would not
care to associate with the lives of their
daughters or their lady friends. If the
custom of smoking among American
ladies is becoming prevalent it is one
that cannot be otherwise than deeply
deplored. No wOman-and we weigh
each word in this statement-can be O
lady and be addicted to smoking.
The argument that men smoke is NO
plausible reason for women doing so
and no one possessed of any degree OF
common sense will advance such com.
parison. There are scores and hund.
reds of things that can be properly as.
sociated with the more commonplace
nature of man, but when connected
with the delicate and refined nature OF
woman they become widely dissimilar
Tobacco was intended for the use oi
men, and while it would be infinitely
better were it not used at all, or used in
much lesser quantities than it is at pre-.
sent, the cigar or cigarette is not un
becoming to the most perfect gentle
man. But when employed by ladies, i
is put to use for which it was neve
intended; and the cigar in the mouth
of woman becomes her as much a!
would costly flag of the richest satir
texture if placed on the begrimed mast
of one of the scows that rid out cities
of their superf1uous mud and filth"